
BJJ Mental Models
Your guide to a conceptual and intelligent Jiu-Jitsu approach. BJJ black belt Steve Kwan and a slate of expert guests explain the concepts, strategies, and tactics behind the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Episodes
439 episodes
Mini Ep. 69: Consistency
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss consistency as a concept, and explain how it acts as the basis for building good habits, achieving compound gains, and creating luck. Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, ...
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6:15

BONUS: Updated Pedagogy, feat. Rob Biernacki
In this bonus episode, Rob Biernacki talks pedagogy! We discuss his updated pedagogy module on BJJ Concepts, the evolving landscape of Jiu-Jitsu instruction, balancing concepts with techniques, evidence versus anecdote, emotional dysregulation ...
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1:01:00

Ep. 352: Arm Drag Concepts, feat. Niamh Bryn
This week we're joined by Niamh Bryn, owner of Snowblind BJJ in Seattle! In this episode, Niamh explores the versatility and depth of the arm drag, and why it's more than just a beginner move. We explain its role as an opening salvo to create r...
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Episode 352
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56:31

Mini Ep. 68: Defensive Thinking
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss defensive thinking, the tendency to excuse poor performance before it even happens.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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6:25

Ep. 351: Injury Prehab, feat. Dr. Mike Piekarski
This week, we're joined again by “Doctor Kickass” Mike Piekarski: physiotherapist, BJJ black belt, online course creator, and instructor! In this episode, Mike discusses injury mitigation, or “prehab,” for grapplers. We explore how injuries com...
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Episode 351
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1:00:06

Mini Ep. 67: Loss Aversion
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss loss aversion, the human tendency to fear losses more than we desire equivalent gains. While avoiding losses is rational, excessive fear of loss can hold us back from our biggest growth opportuniti...
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7:02

Ep. 350: Front Headlocks, feat. Brianna Ste-Marie
In this episode, Brianna Ste-Marie talks about the front headlock: its offensive power, common pitfalls like “bloodlust,” strategic uses for control and distraction, and key differences between gi and no-gi.Follow Brianna on social:...
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Episode 350
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1:03:54

Mini Ep. 66: Abundance Mindset
In this week's mini-episode, we discuss the idea of an abundance mindset, where we view success as something we can mutually achieve. The abundance mindset contrasts with a scarcity mindset, which sees success as a zero-sum game. This mi...
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5:51

Ep. 349: Overcoming Obstacles, feat. Edwin "Junny" Ocasio
In this episode, we welcome back world champion Edwin “Junny” Ocasio for a deeply introspective conversation about the mental challenges of high-level competition. Junny shares how achieving his lifelong dream of winning a world title unexpecte...
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Episode 349
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57:18

Mini Ep. 65: Process Over Outcomes
In this week's mini-episode we discuss process over outcomes, a mental model we've also referred to as habits over results. This concept teaches us to balance long-term goals with the short-term habits needed to achieve them. We d...
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8:36

Ep. 348: The Timeline of Coaching, feat. Francesco Fonte
In this episode, Steve Kwan welcomes back Francesco Fonte for an in-depth exploration of what Francesco calls the “timeline of coaching:”For coaches: INFO → SKILLS → GAMESFor athletes: GAMES → SKILLS → INFOFrancesco explains...
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Episode 348
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55:14

Mini Ep. 64: Resulting
In this week's mini-episode we discuss resulting, a logical fallacy where we incorrectly assume that the quality of our decisions are directly related to the quality of our results.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normall...
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7:46

Ep. 347: The ABCs of Mental Coaching, feat. Laurien Zurhake
In this episode of BJJ Mental Models, Steve Kwan is joined by Laurien Zurhake to explore how trauma-informed coaching can transform Jiu-Jitsu into a safer, more inclusive, and more effective training environment. Laurien, co-founder of Off the ...
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Episode 347
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1:00:04

Mini Ep. 63: Self-Competition
In this week's mini-episode we discuss self-competition. You've probably heard the phrase, "comparison is the thief of joy." Self-comparison is a problem we all face, and self-competition is a helpful mental model for working with t...
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7:35

Ep. 346: Tryhard Hobbyists, feat. Rosie Miller
In this episode, Steve Kwan is joined by Rosie Miller to explore the concept of the “tryhard hobbyist” in Jiu-Jitsu: someone who trains seriously and with intention, even if they don’t pursue the sport professionally. Rosie, a brown belt out of...
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1:01:42

Mini Ep. 62: The Red Queen Effect
In this week's mini-episode we discuss the Red Queen effect, a hypothesis based on a quote from Alice in Wonderland that is oddly applicable to science and Jiu-Jitsu! It teaches us that sometimes we need to keep moving just to maintain o...
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7:39

Ep. 345: Back After Layoffs, feat. Elisabeth Clay
In this episode, Steve Kwan talks with elite competitor Elisabeth Clay about returning to Jiu-Jitsu after major life changes like pregnancy and injury. Clay shares her personal journey of Jiu-Jitsu and pregnancy, staying mentally engaged during...
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Episode 345
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55:47

Mini Ep. 61: Systematic Abandonment
In this week's mini-episode we discuss the concept of systematic abandonment, a mental model co-opted from business strategists like Peter Drucker and Michael Porter. Systematic abandonment teaches us to periodically review and discard h...
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10:02

Ep. 344: Ankle Lock Strategy, feat. Jake O'Driscoll
In this episode of BJJ Mental Models, Steve Kwan is joined by Jake O’Driscoll from Essence BJJ in Perth for an in-depth discussion on the straight foot lock game. Jake explains his unique finishing mechanics, how his method differs from the pop...
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Episode 344
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59:43

Mini Ep. 60: Flow
In this week's mini-episode we discuss the concept of flow, a mental model for peak performance first proposed in 1975 by the psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.Get our Intro to Mechanics audio course, normally $79, FREE:
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9:11

Ep. 343: Living Your Values, feat. Giles Garcia
In this episode, we're joined once again by Giles Garcia, head coach of Ronin Grappling in Glasgow, to tackle the complex topic of living your values in Jiu-Jitsu. Giles explores the challenges coaches and students face when trying to uphold pe...
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Episode 343
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1:25:34

Mini Ep. 59: Growth Mindset
In this week's mini-episode we discuss growth mindsets, a mental model popularized by Carol Dweck in her hit 2006 book, "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success." Growth mindsets are defined by belief in our ability to improve, as opposed...
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8:51

Ep. 342: Developing Coaches, feat. Cody Maltais
In this episode, Steve sits down with Cody Maltais, head coach at Elevate MMA in Durham, North Carolina, to explore the art of developing coaches in Jiu-Jitsu. Cody shares his journey from Marine Corps veteran to academy leader and emphasizes t...
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Episode 342
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58:39

Mini Ep. 58: The 80/20 Rule
In this week's mini-episode we discuss the 80/20 rule, a mental model that's well-known, but misunderstood and overapplied. The 80/20 rule refers to an uneven distribution where the majority of results are produced by a minority of effor...
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11:23

Ep. 341: Jiu-Jitsu Is a Team Sport, feat. Francesco Fonte
In this episode, we're joined by Francesco Fonte, MMA and Jiu-Jitsu head coach from Sportschule Next Level in Germany! Francesco explores the idea of Jiu-Jitsu as a team sport. He explains how fostering a relaxed, playful training environment n...
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Episode 341
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51:36
